Anglo-Saxon Gold Hoard
Posted: 2009-09-24A metal detectorist investigating a farm field in rural Staffordshire has discovered a fabulous hoard of gold coins dating as far back as the 7th century. Historians are calling the find one of the most important ever made, on a par with the discovery of the Sutton Hoo treasure and the Book of Kells illuminated manuscript.
Terry Herbert was investigating the field with his metal detector when he turned up a hoard of over 1500 coins, including over 5kg of gold and 2.5kg of silver. The size of the find dwarfs the famous Sutton Hoo discovery, which amounted to about 1.5kg of gold. Among the Staffordshire hoard were items used for warfare, including a sword hilt plate and pommel caps, inlaid with jewels.
The hoard is currently being held at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery while it is being catalogued and examined. According to BBC news, a small selection of the treasure will go on display from this Friday, 25 September, until 13 October. The hoard will then be valued by experts.
If the treasure hoard is anywhere near as valuable as suspected, we will be hearing a lot more about the finds over the coming months. Rather makes you want to take up metal detecting, doesn't it?
Resources:
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
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